The Changing Policy of Air India on Guitar Carriage
38.2K
3.8K
1.7K
Air India, once a haven for guitarists, has now implemented a new policy that has left many musicians in a dilemma. Guitarists traveling with the airline find that they are no longer allowed to carry their guitars in the passenger cabin, with only two options available - check in the guitar or buy an extra seat. This move has drawn criticism from the musical community, with concerns raised about its impact on struggling musicians and those starting out.
Musician's Perspective
Guitarist Ehasaan Noorani of the musical trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy shared his experience of being stopped by Air India ground staff from carrying his guitar on a Mumbai-Varanasi flight. Although they eventually relented, he wondered how this "new rule" would affect artists who are just beginning their careers or are not financially stable. "We can afford to pay for the extra seat, but what about those musicians who do a show for as little as Rs 10,000? How can they buy an extra seat or check in a guitar knowing that the airline takes no responsibility for damage or loss?" he said.Mahesh Tinaikar, another guitarist, was also asked by Air India staff to check in his guitar or buy an extra seat on a Goa-Mumbai flight. He questioned the airline's claim that allowing guitars on board would inconvenience other passengers, as he had been traveling with a guitar in the cabin for the past 20 years without any complaints.
Air India's Stand
An Air India spokesperson stated that there has been no change in the airline's policies on the carriage of items, including musical instruments, inside the cabin conforming to the stipulated dimensions. While other carriers like IndiGo clearly allow guitars as carry-ons in their baggage policy guidelines, Air India's guidelines do not make an exception for musical instruments. The Air India website states that the maximum permissible dimension for carry-on in economy class is a height of 55 cm, a length of 40 cm, and a width of 20 cm, with a total dimension not exceeding 115 cm. However, a standard guitar softboard has much larger dimensions - 110 cm, 40 cm, and 7 cm.The confusion arose as Air India had ignored its carry-on baggage dimension limitations in the past to allow guitars on board. Now, the spokesperson added that small musical instruments adhering to the specified dimensions and not likely to inconvenience other passengers or create any safety hazard during turbulence can be carried onboard free of charge. Any musical instrument exceeding the specified dimensions can be carried in the cabin only by booking an additional adjacent seat. Large, bulky, or odd-sized musical instruments are to be carried as checked-in baggage only.
International Comparison
While airlines worldwide have their own guidelines for carry-on bags, some regulators, such as the US regulator, support musicians. In the US, airlines either put the guitar in the overhead bin or in the coat closet without any issues. In 2015, the US Department of Transportation stipulated that airlines "must allow a passenger to carry into the cabin and stow a small musical instrument, such as a violin or a guitar, in a suitable baggage compartment, such as the overhead bin or under the seats" in accordance with its civil aviation regulator's safety regulations. This shows the difference in approach between international and domestic airlines when it comes to accommodating musicians and their instruments.In conclusion, the new policy of Air India on guitar carriage has sparked a debate among musicians and raised questions about the airline's approach. While the airline claims that there has been no change in policy, the enforcement of the old policy has led to difficulties for guitarists. Musicians hope that the airline will reconsider its stance and find a way to accommodate them without causing unnecessary hardships.
